The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Maadeed has headed the State of Qatar delegation to the 15th MARLOG Conference, which opened in Alexandria, Egypt, yesterday, under the patronage of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry of the Arab Republic of Egypt H.E. Eng. Kamel El Wazir.

Several transportation ministers and maritime transportation experts were also in attendance.

Participating in a high-level panel discussion, H.E. Al-Maadeed highlighted the main features of the development of ports and logistics ecosystem in Qatar, noting that Qatar has adopted a proactive approach in developing it, based on long-term planning, integration between infrastructure and regulatory policies, and the use of modern technology.

He said Qatar has invested in developing the infrastructure projects for that critical industry to develop remarkably in all fronts, particularly commercial and tourist ports and assistive logistics services.

Hamad Port, he said, has been a pivotal turning point in this respect, in terms of reshaping the supply chains and enhancing the country's ability to react efficiently and flexibly with global changes. The advanced infrastructure and modern, ecofriendly technology of Hamad Port have contributed to transforming it into a regional hub port for re-exportation and transshipment, hitting advanced rankings on the Container Port Performance Index, issued by the WB – the first in the Gulf region and 11th globally, in the CPPI report 2024.

He said that in parallel with developing the ports, Qatar has been keen to build an integrated logistics system that extends from the ports to the logistics zones and free zones, in order to ensure smooth movement of goods, raise the efficiency of operations, and reduce operating costs.

That was backed by rolling out digital solutions, updating clearance procedures, and activating the concept of smart ports and logistics hubs.

And as part of supporting national development requirements, and to promote economic diversification and environmentally sustainable solutions in line with QNV 2030, he said, the MOT has developed a national strategy for logistics services sector and launched a masterplan for ground freight in Qatar, aimed at contributing to enhancing integration between the sea, air, and ground freight industries, thus supporting supply chains and competitive advantages of regional and international trade through connecting companies, products, services and individuals together, and enabling traders and investors to trade at the lowest cost and the shortest time.

This, he noted, can help satisfy the requirements for economic diversification clusters for both logistics services and shipping, and enhance Qatar’s position as a hub for shipping, transportation and logistics services with the top 15 countries in the world in the logistics efficiency index.

“We do not look at this system as separate projects, rather as an integrated ecosystem based on the interconnection of multiple modes of transportation, institutional coordination, partnerships with the private sector, and regional and international integration. This has enabled the State of Qatar to strengthen its position as a reliable logistics hub, capable of serving the region and connecting it to global markets efficiently and sustainably.”

He added that Qatar is committed to continuing developing its ports and logistics services industries, not only through investing in infrastructure, but also through policy development, promoting innovation, and expanding regional and international cooperation, in order to keep pace with global changes and serve the goals of comprehensive development.

The theme for this year's event is "Smart & Resilient Logistics Corridors – Future Gateway to the Green Trade." The focus will be on innovative approaches for sustainable, digital, and resilient supply chains, as well as the role of smart logistics corridors in a changing global economy.